Study: Most Medicare docs set to face performance penalties

The change comes as part of President Obama's signature healthcare law.

"Near-term improvements in documentation and reporting are necessary to avert
widespread physician penalties," said Richard Duszak, CEO of the Harvey
L. Neiman Health Policy Institute, in a statement.

"Compliance
with PQRS requirements has improved each year but more physicians need
to act now: Their performance in 2013 will dictate penalties for 2015."

The
requirements encourage doctors to improve patient care by following
evidence-based clinical procedures, such as administering aspirin to
someone suffering a heart attack or ordering a tuberculosis screening
for rheumatoid arthritis patients.

The new study found that U.S.
radiologists performed better than other Medicare providers in 2010,
with nearly 24 percent of imaging docs eligible for PQRS incentives that
year compared to 16 percent of others.

"As it stands, in 2016,
radiologists collectively may face penalties totaling more than $100
million. Although not a specific part of this analysis, penalties for
nonradiologists could total well over $1 billion," Duszak said.

Doctor
groups like the American Medical Association have urged federal health
officials not to implement the PQRS penalties for 2013. The fines would
be levied in 2015.

Last year, most Medicare doctors who were eligible for quality bonuses did not participate in the incentive program at all.

Tuesday's
study was published online in the Journal of the American College of
Radiology.